Jesuits likely to face manpower crisis

By Alex 1'. Cosgrave VOCATIONS to the Society of Jesus are again on the increase, after a severe decline in the late 1960s, but even if present trends continue there is likely to be a serious manpower shortage.
Although the number of priests in the English Province of the society has remained constant at around 500, the drop in the number of scholastics from the 1940 level of 260 to this year's figure of 70 has meant a sharp increase in the average age of the society.
In the English Province at present there arc only 92 priests under 50, the bulk of the society falling into the 50 to 68 age range, with more than 100 priests over 68. With such a heavy bias towards older men, and with only 13 students entering the novitiate this year, numbers are hound to fall.
According to Mr Hugh Kay, Jesuit Information Officer, the prospect of manpower shortages has led to serious thought being given to what type of ministries the society should pursue.
He said that the immediate reaction to the problem was that the society should concentrate on special ministries such as those to industry and in social work, but that thought was now being given to preserving and encouraging those areas where school and parish complexes existed together. such as in Wimbledon and Glasgow.
Specialised ministries would continue, he said. but this
Modified approach would mean that priests would have a base community to work from.
The English Province already sends an exceptionally large proportion of its priests to the missions. At present, 194 Jesuits are serving in Rhodesia and Ciuyana — more than a quarter of the society's English manpower. Mr Kay attributed the decline in vocations in the late 1960s and early 1970s when applications to the novitiate fell as low as five, to a general lack of direction in the Church and within the society.
Other orders had experienced a similar decline, he said. In the case of the Jesuits this was partly caused by uncertainty about the continuation of Jesuit schools and the work the society intended to undertake. With the adoption of "Justice and Peace themes" by the society, Mr Kay was confident that "the right sense of direction has been established" and hoped that this would be reflected in the number of applications.
Fewer students are now entering the novitiate straight from school. Eleven of this year's intake of 13 are 20 or over, and have undertaken jobs or university courses prior to entry.
This compares with a situation in post-war years when perhaps only five of a novitiate of 40 would have had experienee outside, school.
Scholastics also seem to prefer to gain experience outside schools, and many are now spending their time in social work or industrial chaplaincy. As a result Stonyhurst will have no scholastic teachers next vcar.